Published February 17, 2015 at 5:53 PM Updated February 20, 2015 at 12:14 PM

Nothing seems to dampen Rio’s carnival spirit, a city that is eager to show the world it is capable of throwing a world class party and organize mass events like no other place on earth. CCTV’s Lucrecia Franco filed this report from Rio de Janeiro.

Rain welcomed as Brazil top samba schools battle at Carnival

Nothing seems to dampen Rio's carnival spirit, a city that is eager to show the world it is capable of throwing a world class party and organize mass events like no other place on earth. CCTV's Lucrecia Franco filed this report from Rio de Janeiro.

Samba schools across Latin America’s largest country, Brazil, are bring out their best as Brazil’s most important party, Carnival, goes into full swing. Dance students all over the country are hoping to become Carnival champions. The battle ends up between Brazil’s 12 top Samba schools where a competition of not only dance ability, but beauty, becomes a heated event. Brazil has been facing one of its worst droughts in history, causing many of the smaller towns in the Southeast of the country to cancel Carnival celebrations. The two-day competition between Samba schools was met with a torrential downpour that didn’t bother competitors and brought much needed rain.

“This rain that we were expecting is very good for nature, it is good for the school. We are all happy.” Rosenete Martins, a dancer said.

Covered in umbrellas, some 70-thousand people watching the show live, cheered for the schools that spent big money and invested months of hard work to put on this dazzling spectacle.

The show, which is estimated to have brought around one million visitors to Rio de Janeiro, is expected to also mean big tourism spending for the city.

Information for this report was compiled by CCTV’s Lucrecia Franco in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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